Shoe-lace attachment.



J. E. ROGERS.

SHOE LACE ATTAUHMENT.

APPLICATION TILED 0015, 1912.

1,061,780, Patented May 13, 1913.

l/vblmeooeo cnLuMnlA PLANOGIAPN co., WASHINGTON. n. c.

JOHN ELM'ER ROGERS, 0F URBANA, ILLINOIS.

SHOE-LACE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1913.

Application filed October 5, 1912. Serial No. 724,151.

To all whom it may concern Be 1t known that I, JOHN ELMnn Rocnus, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Urbana, in the county of Champaign, State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for muproving the artistic appearance of shoe laces when applied to the shoe, and has for its object more specifically to provide a novel device or devices adapted to be detachably attached to either the shoe upper or the lace itself, and to form a backing and spreader for the lace where it extends between the eyelets of the shoe upper, and also a backing and spreader for the body loop of the bow tie or knot thereof. These objects I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a low quartered shoe upper showing the lacing thereof with my novel devices applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the centers of oppositely disposed eyelets showing one of my novel devices in position thereon, the lace being omitted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of one of my novel devices. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a lace bow knot partially formed, with my novel device in position thereon, the construction of the same being slightly modified from that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the Fig. 4 construction.

In the said drawing the reference numerals 1 denote the flaps of a conventional low quartered shoe, having the usual eyelets 2 in their adjacent edges to receive the shoe lace 3. The latter, which may be made of silk or other suitable material, is of the broad type now very commonly used, and is laced as shown in Fig. 1, that is to say, in a series-of parallel loops 4, as shown. My invention is designed to spread said loops between the eyelets to substantially the width of the lace and to maintain the same so spread, and this I accomplish by employing a series of spreaders 5, one underlyin each loop 4. Each of said spreaders, whic 1 are formed of any suitable metal, such as aluminum, comprises a body portion 6 formed on a slight curve both longitudinally and transversely, and having at one end a tongue 7 and at its other end a hook 8, the latter in use being engaged in one of the eyelets 2, while the tongue 7, when the device is properly positioned, overlaps and rests upon the edge of the opposing flap 1, so that the spreader bridges the space be tween said flaps, as seen in Fig. 2. The loop l of the lace being now brought over the spreader from one eyelet to the other completely covers the same and at the same time is spread to its full width thereby, it being observed that said spreader is tapered from its center toward its ends to suit the configuration of the loop 4; when in position, the ends of the latter being necessarily contracted in order to pass through the eyelets 2. By employing a pliable metal, such as aluminum, for the spreader-s I may, if desired, by bending the same, vary the longitudinal or transverse curvature. of the body portion 6 of said spreaders to impart to the overlying loops a greater or less curvature, as may be desired.

In Figs. 3 and 4: I have shown my device applied to the body loop of the bow knot of the lace when tied in position, and for this use the construction is slightly modi fied by shortening the length spreader 9, by dispensing with the tongue 7 and hook 8, and by bending one end of said spreader at 10 and providing the same with an aperture 11. In applying this form of spreader the initial interlock 12 of the knot is made, the lace end that is to be used to form the body loop 13 is then passed through the aperture 11 in the spreader 9, the wing loop 14 is formed in the other end of the lace and disposed beneath the spreader 9, the body loop 13 then formed by carrying the other end of the lace over said spreader, and said end is then formed into the opposite wing loop and also drawn under said spreader. Upon now tightening the knot in the usual manner the body loop 13 will force the spreader into holding contact with the underlying parts of the knot, while said body loop will be maintained distended by said spreader to its extreme width.

While I have illustrated my devices as applied to a low quartered shoe only, it will be understood that they are equally applicable to high shoes, and particularly to the lower loops of the laces thereof.

Having thus described my invention,what

of the engaging I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spreader for shoe laces, embodying a body portion curved longitudinally and transversely and tapered from its center toward its ends and adapted to be disposed beneath a loop of the lace to spread the same transversely to substantially the Width of the material of the lace.

2. A spreader for shoe laces, embodying a body portion adapted to be disposed beneath a loop of the lace to spread the same transversely, and means thereon for detachably the upper for attaching the spreader in position.

3. ,Ai'spreader for shoe laces, embodying a body portion formed of pliable material and curved longitudinally and transversely, said body portion adapted to be disposed beneath a loop of the lace to spread the same transversely, and means thereon for detachably attaching the spreader in position.

4:. A spreader for shoe laces, embodying a body portion formed of pliable material and curved longitudinally and transversely and tapered from its center toward its ends, said body portion adapted to be disposed beneat-h the loop of the lace to spread the same transversely, and means thereon for detachably attaching the spreader in posit-ion.

5. A spreader forshoe laces, embodying a body portion adaptedto be disposed beneath a loop of the lace and to bridge the space between the adjacent edges of the shoe upper flaps, a hook at one end thereof adapted to detachably engage one of the eyelets of the shoe upper, and a tongue at the other end adapted to rest upon the adjacent edge of the opposite shoe upper fiap.

6. A spreader for shoe laces, embodying a body portion curved longitudinally and transversely and adapted to be disposed bewitnesses.

JOHN ELMER ROGERS. \Vit-nesses H. PEARLMAN, M. J. RENNECKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

